Originally posted by chillWow! Talk about a heat machine! I've never seen a film get so many negative reviews before it was filmed, scripted, or even casted beyond its star!

Oh boy, here we go.

-Directing commercials/music videos often pays comparitively to directing feature films, which is why many directors work exclusively in commercials now.

Are you serious? Show me figures of guys who earn more from directing a music video compared to one feature movie. And those movies that only air at 3am on Cinemax don't count, I mean movies that are intended for theatrical distribution.

-The WWE won't be the only company involved during the film's production, as is the case with most feature films.

You're absolutely right. It took no less than five production companies to make Catwoman awful.

And in case anyone wants to scoff at Bonito being a director of commercials, that's how most of today's best directors and producers got their start. Nobody had heard of Guy Ritchie, McG, Brett Ratner, Spike Jonze, or Michael Bay before they started directing large-scale movies.

You had a decent list until you threw McG into there. Bonito should aspire to be more than the guy who directed such awful schlock as the two Charlie's Angels films and the short-lived series "Fastlane." And Bonito's credits aren't as impressive. Guys like Spike Jonze and Guy Ritchie made a name for themselves making very stylish videos and short films that were getting a lot of positive attention from critics and the general public. Bonito made a few commercials for a minor-league indoor sporting event that aren't even guaranteed to air in large markets (and don't air at all in most).

I guess what I'm saying is there seems to be a blanket-stereotyping of this project already, without reason. Educate yourself before saying something foolish, that's all.

It's a movie starring John Cena as a marine. With a fifteen million dollar budget.

...I'm sorry, I hate to "jump the gun" and "stereotype" these types of films, but I'm trying to remember the last time an action flick on a fifteen million dollar budget starring a professional wrestler with no real acting experience came out as anything other than crap. In fact, when's the last time an action film costing $15 million or less was good (or at least a hit in theatres)? Adjust for inflation. I eagerly await your response.

Unless you've read the script (which hasn't been written at this point), in which case, please give us the low-down.

I'm gonna write the script right now.(Begin with Cena as a Marine fighting in the desert.)Cena: Word life.(Saddam Hussein comes out to "No Chance in Hell" and brags about his mustard gas. Cena makes a rhyme about him not cutting the mustard, and calls him gay. Then he shoots him and kisses a chick.)---END

Otherwise, I don't see how anyone can say this project will suck... until I see a headline saying Hogan has been cast as a villain. ;P

Thanks for making my point. Wrestlers + Low Budget + Action = AWFUL.

My own opinion so far is that it looks like a smart move by the WWE to push this as their first feature film, as opposed to the HHH and Kane movies. I also see more potential in Cena's acting abilities than most other superstars.

I'll give you that there might be more potential in Cena, but it also distracts from the mainstream publicity and attention they'd get. Cena is pretty popular right now, but he wouldn't be as recognizable as HHH (and to a lesser extent Kane) to the average schmuck.

p.s. Any hope of a "Movies" section opening on the W?

The "Random" forum is basically just that, with some decent film discussion threads.

-Directing commercials/music videos often pays comparitively to directing feature films, which is why many directors work exclusively in commercials now.

Are you serious? Show me figures of guys who earn more from directing a music video compared to one feature movie. And those movies that only air at 3am on Cinemax don't count, I mean movies that are intended for theatrical distribution.

I'm not going to get into any arguments here. But I suppose I could have been more clear: by "comparitively," I mean that compared to most directors who make Hollywood feature films, commercial & music video directors are able to make a lot of money and do several commercials in the same amount of time it takes to plan, shoot, & edit a feature film. Hence, me saying comparitively. It's more of a get-rich-quick route when starting out and a director doesn't want to make short films to get him- or herself noticed. So yes, I was serious, I guess I thought I wrote what I meant clearly enough, but possibly not. My bad. There's serious dough to be had in commercials, don't kid yourself. It's just too unstable if you're not at the top of the A-list.

You had a decent list until you threw McG into there. Bonito should aspire to be more than the guy who directed such awful schlock as the two Charlie's Angels films and the short-lived series "Fastlane."

I don't think anybody involved is trying to make a good movie. I'd bet my own money that they're looking at the numbers. The reason most straight-to-video movies are made at all is because they're profitable. The tax writeoffs involved are so great with movies that for a $15 million feature film, they're looking at a more promising profit at the end of the day (after all distribution is taken care of, that is) compared to a higher budget which is riskier.

Check out Joseph Kahn, who is a great example and saves me having to write much more on the topic. Just because most of the public hasn't heard of these directors doesn't mean they're not stinking rich from a couple years shooting videos & commercials. Kahn just shot his first film last year (Torque) and it sucked. I see what you're saying, but these dudes make a lot of money and Kahn is one of many - he's not the exception:http://familyscreenscene.allinfoabout.com/bios/joseph_kahn.html

And why couldn't they have chosen a more original name than WWE Films? Titan Films would have been better, and that's just the first thought off the top of my sleepy head. The wrestling name just detracts from any credibility in the public eye, in my opinion.

All in all, they're playing it safe with the first film. If the movie is GOOD, I'll be surprised. It would be nice, but it's not necessary. This is more likely a case of the WWE trying to make money in new areas. If the XFL was making money, it'd still be around today. This is just Vince's newest idea. Time will tell if it works or not, but I still think it's looking good from a business standpoint.

Originally posted by chill Nobody had heard of Guy Ritchie, McG, Brett Ratner, Spike Jonze, or Michael Bay before they started directing large-scale movies.

Spike was a fairly well-known music video director before he went into movies.

There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another theory which states that this has already happened.- The Restaurant at the End of the Universe